Bowring Hall to become homes after councillors approve plans

“Exciting” plans to refurbish Wellington’s disused Bowring Hall site to provide 16 new homes have been given the green light by the planning committee.

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Councillors voted unanimously to grant Bowring Developments Ltd permission for seven one- and two-bedroom flats in the former NHS building and nine new houses in its grounds.

The plans will involve roadworks on Holyhead Road, as a traffic island will be moved to give clearer access to the site.

Bowring Hall

Bowring Hall

Bowring Hall

Bowring Hall

Councillor Miles Hosken, who represents the Ercall ward which includes Bowring Hall, told the Telford and Wrekin planning committee: “The plan is quite exciting. It’s going to add value to the community, not only by allowing accommodation but also by allowing an old, established building to have a new life.”

Committee member Councillor Nicola Lowery agreed the site was “right for development” and particularly welcomed the fact that the application includes bungalows, “which are badly needed in this borough”.

The developers also plan to install a lift to serve the apartments in Bowring Hall, for the benefit of disabled residents.

Council planning officers had raised concerns that one of the proposed bungalows, at the north end of the Holyhead Road site, was too close to an oak tree that backs onto Bowring Park and is protected by a tree preservation order.

In response, the developer reduced its size and number of bedrooms from three to two. The company will also make a £9,600 contribution towards the upkeep of the park.

Building work will start after January 30, if no “substantive objections” are received by the planning department.